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Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix

Two years ago this month I visited the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Az. Even though I was in Phoenix for the ASLA conference, I think I was more excited about visiting this garden than anything else. This year, they’re celebraing their 75th anniversary – SEVENTY FIVE YEARS!

The Desert Botanical Garden, despite being in the desert, has beauty, drama, softness, and life. There’s a word that I hate (it starts with a “x” and ends in “scaping”) that makes most people imagine a particular layout and use of plant materials that just makes my head hurt. Things have changed, though, and design of water wise planting has evolved!

The folks at the Desert Botanical Garden have done a beautiful job with the materials they use. Most of the arbors, gates, trellises, and things like that are made with raw steel and rebar. They’ve oxidized into being gorgeous rusted pieces that are both crisp in their design and rustic in their finish. Next up is the use of concrete – oh yes, concrete is wonderful stuff! This board-formed concrete wall with the wood bench attached to it is so nicely detailed!

There’s this lovely seat wall with a green stone inlay that becomes a very discrete water feature at the other end. The water aspect of this would be easy to overlook, it is not showy or loud. Water, of course, is important for many reasons, but a big gurgling fountain would be out of place here. Tempting, but not appropriate.

I only recall one other water feature, also a nice quiet, appropriate piece.

Nearby were some very cool butterfly chairs with white slipcovers – they even looked refreshing – which caused me to realize that even if you don’t sit or touch the water, the visual cue of taking a break is still a powerful (refreshing) force.

Above you can get a real feel for the place – materials retain their integrity; for example, stone is used like stone, and it isn’t just veneer. The colors belong here, and boldness is introduced sparingly. Here, the planting not only steals the show, it IS the show thanks to strategic restraint in all the other materials. Take a peek at the next several images – notice how the materials are used honestly, With color and a sense of place in mind, here are more of my favorites:

Last, but not least I leave you with the parking lot (that’s right, the parking lot) and a bunny with two quail (the quail blend, just behind the bunny to the right, in front of the succulents).

Botanical gardens and arboreta are a big influence in my life and someday I hope to work on another one. In fact, I really should buy a lottery ticket because if I ever won, I’d buy some land and …. oh, do I have ideas!